The highlight of the Queensland Truck and Machinery Show is set to be Kenworth’s ‘Innovation Truck’, a peek into the future of Australian trucking.

Powered by one of the first natural gas engines trialed in Australia, the vehicle features dozens of other major innovations to improve environmental performance and increase productivity, performance and safety at the same time.

The Australian manufacturer spent 18 months developing the vehicle in collaboration with leading edge suppliers in Australia, North America and Europe, some of which have invested years researching and refining advanced componentry and prototype systems.

The Innovation Truck is one of the most technologically-advanced vehicles designed and manufactured anywhere in the world.

“Kenworth’s Innovation Truck is a lot more than a concept vehicle,” said PACCAR Australia’s Director of Sales and Marketing, Andrew Hadjikakou. “It’s a highly practical vehicle, combining the latest technological innovations that may one day be available in every truck.”

Mr Hadjikakou said that, when the company began the project, it had three major objectives in mind. “We wanted to build a vehicle that was environmentally-friendly, employed the highest safety standards and used the latest technological innovations for more pleasant and productive transport.”

The Innovation Truck is based on Kenworth’s flagship prime mover, the T608. Rated at 97,000 kg GCM, the vehicle is powered by a Westport 15-litre GX 550 engine, producing 578 hp (@1800 rpm) and 1850 lb/ft (@1200 rpm). The engine uses an HPDI (high pressure direct injection) liquefied natural gas (LNG) system. It performs with the same horsepower, torque and high efficiency as diesel, while significantly reducing greenhouse gases and particulate matter and also producing impressive fuel cost savings.

The vehicle features Australia’s first Eaton 18-speed UltraShift Plus Electronic Clutch Actuation (ECA) automated transmission coupled with a LNG engine, which at the time of installation was a world first.

The Innovation Truck includes a wide range of advanced safety features to protect both the driver and the community as a whole such as:

• An advanced anti-lock braking system that incorporates automatic traction control with ESP to help manage a potential jackknife or rollover.
• A speed limit management system that warns and can automatically reduce vehicle speed to conform with the current speed limit.
• A Lane Departure Warning System that alerts the driver when they unintentionally leave their lane or begin to drive erratically.
• Side and rear navigation cameras which eradicate blind spots.
• A newly-designed dashboard, featuring two LCDs which replace the clutter of conventional gauges and dials, and display video from the navigation cameras.
• An ultrasonic sensor that detects small objects in front of the vehicle while operating in restricted spaces, such as a service station.
• GPS-based tracking and recovery system that can pinpoint the vehicle’s location and download vital data, including faults, for remote diagnosis.
• Side airbags and advanced seat belt technology.

The Innovation Truck’s cabin is not only a safe working environment, it’s also a pleasant home away from home, which features:

• Bluetooth technology for wireless connection to various electronic and telecommunication devices, all of which can utilise the inbuilt stereo system.
• A roomy 50-inch integrated sleeper, incorporating a 19-inch LCD for entertainment.
• Keyless entry and start-up, using secure Radio-Frequency Identification (RFID) technology.
• Electroluminance ambient lighting for improving distance and depth perception while driving at night.
• High output, low power High Intensity Discharge (HID) exterior and LED interior lights, replacing all incandescent globes.

Other innovative features include:

• Next generation, wide-based single drive axle tyres
• Tyre pressure monitor
• Head-up display
• Auto-wiper controls
• Auto headlight sensor
• Cornering driving lamp
• Disc brakes, front and rear
• Solar panels for recharging batteries and powering appliances
• Optically-clear film for windscreen protection.

[For more detailed information on these and other innovations, see the separate release, ‘Kenworth’s Innovation Truck: Smart Systems and Devices’]

A number of these innovations will soon filter through to the marketplace. The HID headlights and LED interior lighting as well as the Lane Departure Warning System and Object Detection System are expected to be introduced to some Kenworth models in the near future.

The Innovation Truck is testament to Kenworth’s design and engineering capability. It demonstrates the manufacturer’s flexibility in adapting new technologies as well as its vision and capacity to see the future of transport and make it a reality.

“Kenworth has learnt a great deal from developing this truck,” Mr Hadjikakou said. “We opened ourselves up to a new way of thinking outside of conventional trucking and, having consulted a large number of experts in various fields, we have become aware of new and exciting innovations,” he said.

“Some were originally developed for a home or entertainment environment but, as home and work converge, they become more applicable, especially for transport operators. All in all, Kenworth’s Innovation Truck is designed to show what is possible – a vehicle that is built for rugged conditions and yet is environmentally-friendly; a vehicle that is highly productive and yet is comfortable and safe to drive,” Mr Hadjikakou added.

The 2009 Queensland Truck and Machinery Show will be held on 14-17 May at the R&A Showgrounds. In addition to the Innovation Truck, Kenworth will have new engines, transmissions and models in various configurations on exhibition at ‘PACCAR World’, a 1,250 square-metre display housed in Building 10, The Avenue. PACCAR World will also feature the latest range from DAF.